D’Argento records first winner
Striking stallion D’Argento couldn’t have asked for a better time to record his first winner as a sire, with Rag Queen finding the line in front in a close finish at Canterbury Park.
Ridden by Jason Collett, the David Payne-trained filly was able to secure a narrow victory over Elegant Artist (Trapeze Artist), with D’Argento only having to wait for his second runner to hit the scoreboard.
With the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the result comes at a welcome time, with nine of his progeny being offered by Bowness Stud, where he stands for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
Marble Arch set for big year?
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Marble Arch (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will return to the races on Saturday with her trainers hopeful the progressive Kiwi-bred is set for a big 2024 preparation.
Marble Arch is set to contest the Listed Black Pearl S. at Geelong first-up after not finding her best in the spring.
“She didn’t come up in the spring, so we opted to get some spring grass into her, and I think, hopefully, she’s going to pay us back in spades,” co-trainer JD Hayes told Racing.com.
“It’s a tough contest, and she profiles to be better over 1400 metres, a mile, but I think she’ll sprint well fresh.”
Field transported to hospital
Friday’s Stawell meeting was without delay when apprentice rider Sarah Field was injured in the mounting yard and transported to hospital. Field was aboard the Keith Hall-trained Lewandowski (Casino Prince) when the gelding double-barrelled and dislodged her.
Sarah Field | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Field complained of leg pain before being transported to hospital. Former Victorian Jockeys’ Association chief executive Des O’Keeffe told Racing.com, “The injury appeared to be significant. Just a simple incident in the mounting yard, resulting in a significant leg injury, it’s really unfortunate.”
An update from the Victorian Jockeys’ Association updated Field’s condition stating she is awaiting scans on a possible leg fracture.
King set for Japan stint
Leading jockey Rachel King will attempt to concur one of the most revered jurisdictions in world racing, when she takes on a short term license to ride in Japan from Saturday.
The Group 1-winning jockey, who has ridden all around the country, as well as Hong Kong in recent months, has received a short-term license from the Japan Racing Association (JRA).
King said in a statement, “I’m honoured to receive a license from the Japan Racing Association, marking a milestone in my career. This opportunity is a dream come true, showing the global reach of horse racing.”
She has been sponsored by prominent trainer Nokiyuki Hori.
Vale Allen Browell
Beloved Bendigo racing icon Allen Browell passed away on Friday, aged 79, following a battle with illness.
Browell enjoyed an extensive career in the racing industry, taking on pre-training, training, ownership, breeding and clerk of the course duties across a period of over 60 years.
Allen Browell | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
In a statement released on Friday, Racing Victoria Chief Executive Andrew Jones said, “On behalf of the Victorian racing industry, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Allen’s family and friends following the sad news of his passing.
“Allen spent over 60 years as an active participant in Victorian racing and was a much-loved stalwart of the Bendigo racing community. Allen was devoted to his horses and family who have lived and shared his passion for racing.”
Pomfrett wakes from induced coma
Apprentice Emily Pomfrett has shown positive signs on her road to recovery, a day after a serious incident in the mounting yard at Gatton required her to be airlifted to hospital.
Pomfrett, who is the mother to a young son, woke from an induced coma on Friday morning, with her partner Luke Miller reporting she has been cleared of any spinal damage or breaks.
“Emily has just woken up, still in and out (of consciousness) but is functioning as normal. Obviously (she) has no memory of yesterday,” Miller said.
New winner for Stratosphere
Promising second-season sire Stratosphere posted his 13th individual winner when the Stephen Shaw-trained Olive Girl broke her maiden at Hobart on Friday.
The 2-year-old, having her second start, ridden by Bulent Muhcu, defeated Geegees Legacy (Wordsmith) by 1.3l.
Stratosphere | Standing at Grenville Stud
Olive Girl is from the three-time winner Ryan’s Daughter (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who descends from the family of the outstanding Juggler (Jugah {USA}).
Olive Girl was purchased for $45,000 by Ross Nichols from the draft of Grenville Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Racing Victoria fines Cook $10,000
Victorian-based trainer Carly Cook has been fined $10,000 by Racing Victoria stewards after an inquiry into the training bona fides of horses Pintoff (Toorak Toff) and Seethru (Glass Harmonium {Ire}).
The inquiry had been adjourned since December 19 on Cook’s request after stewards found licensed jockey Josh Cartwright under AR 97 (1) of training Pintoff and Seethru without a licence.
In a report on Friday, Racing Victoria stewards said: “Stewards subsequently found Cook guilty of the charge issued on December 19, 2023 under AR 97 (2) which states: Any person who is party to a breach of (AR 97) subrule (1) may also be penalised.
“The particulars of Cook’s charge being that, commencing on or about January 31, 2023 and through to on or about September 8, 2023, Cook allowed and was a party to Cartwright training the horses Pintoff and Seethru, at her licensed premises.”
Pinn, Mitchell to return home
Talented apprentice jockeys Wimeru Pinn and Tayla Mitchell will return to the New Zealand riding scene, after stints in Victoria.
The riders, who are a young couple both carving out respective promising careers in the saddle, will return to New Zealand after Mitchell was reportedly unable to receive a full license from Racing Victoria.
No date has been confirmed as to when Mitchell will resume riding, however Pinn will be available for rides as soon as the January 10 meeting at Matamata.
McNeil looks to 2024
Top jockey Jye McNeil battled through a down year by his lofty standards, but the 2020 G1 Melbourne Cup winner is confident he can get back on the right track in 2024.
“I had a little trip to Hong Kong that really didn’t go to plan, I got COVID and things happened. Thankfully, I was able to leave there on a positive and ride a winner,” McNeil told Racing.com.
Jye McNeil
“In terms of fitting back in (in Australia), it all happened a bit slower than I probably would have liked. In a sense it put me a little further back than where I want to be, now it’s just a slow rebuild back to the top again.
“It’s been a really successful period for me, which is great. I'm riding with real confidence again which is important.”
McNeil will ride promising 2-year-old colt Trunk (Snitzel) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the Geelong Diamond on Saturday.
No change of plans for The Astrologist
Talented sprinter The Astrologist (Zoustar) may not have figured in the finish of the Listed Christmas S. in December, but Dubai dreams remain on track for the gelding, according to assistant trainer of Malua Racing, Will Larkin.
Speaking to Racing.com, Larkin revealed the stable are satisfied with where their Group 1 placegetter is at, and are still hoping to compete in races such as the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan, a race he ran second in last year.
The Astrologist | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s got to produce the form that he had going into it last year for them to invite us over, they’ve already expressed their interest, but he’s got to get the official invite,” Larkin told Racing.com.
“He’s a horse that never produces his best first-up.”
Rey to hold form
The progressive Rey Magnerio (Magnus) will contest the BM84 H. at Geelong on Saturday off a short freshen-up.
Trained by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock, the Cranbourne-based horsemen are keen to keep the son of Magnus in easier company this autumn.
“We made a decision after he won at Flemington to take advantage of his rating, rather than throw him in the deep end,” co-trainer Griffiths told RSN.
“With a lot of our horses over the years, we’ve tried to maximise their wins on their way through the grades. It’s better for their confidence and winning culture and once they get to a certain grade they’ve exhausted their opportunity to capitalise on the ratings system.”
McEvoy takes aim at Diamond
For Ballarat-based trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, their filly Vixenette (Trapeze Artist) is set to chase G1 Blue Diamond riches when she contests the Rex Gorell Geelong Diamond on Saturday. The feature race carries a ticket into the Blue Diamond on February 24.
Calvin and Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Vixenette has come through at the right time and that race is there and if she can run to what she is showing us, she will be around the mark,” Tony McEvoy told Racing.com.
“It’s a good race, the Geelong Diamond, and fitting of being a win-and-you-are-in race for the Diamond, but I think she’s there to run well.”
Holymanz seeks way back to New Zealand
Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) heads to Saturday’s Geelong meeting to contest the Coastal Classic in hope of earning his ticket back home to New Zealand for bigger targets.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 4-year-old is raced by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay and is earmarked to head to the NZ$1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic on January 27.
“We are hoping that Holymanz runs well enough tomorrow (Saturday) to put himself in the picture for the Aotearoa Classic,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre told loveracing.nz.
“We would love to get him here for that race. He has got a high enough rating to get into the field but obviously he needs to run well at Geelong. It is a pretty competitive field, but it is worth $300,000 so you would expect it.”
Plumptre added it would be up to his trainers whether Holymanz's New Zealand mission will be a hit and run one, with the G1 Herbie Dyke S. also a viable option.
“The important thing about Holymanz is that he is an Almanzor, and you are trying to show him off in the best races. Whether that is in Australia so be it, but if he can win a NZ$1 million race at Ellerslie that will be the cream on the cake.”
Eustace makes Hong Kong appearance
David Eustace made his first appearance in Hong Kong at Thursday night’s Happy Valley meeting. Eustace met with local media before the first of eight races, as he prepares to make the transition from Ciaron Maher’s co-trainer in Australia, to a fully fledged sole trainer in Hong Kong.
“It’s been fantastic. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been extremely helpful and efficient. It’s great to be here for it to be official and the hard work starts now over the next few months. I’m looking to get an understanding of the rules, the setup, the races and most importantly try and build a stable,” Eustace told Punters.
David Eustace | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and pressure of building a team myself. I head back to Australia on Saturday evening and will head to Magic Millions for Ciaron (Maher) and at the end of January I finish up. I’ll look to move full-time in April and my understanding is that I can train a horse from June 1 and then start having runners at the start of the 2024/25 season in September.”
Group 1 producer Sophia Mia among final supplements added to Keeneland January
Keeneland will begin a new year Monday, January 8 with the first of four sessions of the 67th January Horses of All Ages Sale. A total of 1477 horses–broodmares and broodmare prospects, recently turned yearlings, horses of racing age, stallions and stallion prospects–have been cataloged to the auction.
Offerings include 10 additional supplements highlighted by Sophia Mia (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}), whose first foal is recent GI Malibu S. winner Speed Boat Beach (USA) (Bayern {USA}). In foal to leading young sire Not This Time (USA) the 9-year-old mare is consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
Trainer Cormac Farrell buys famous Copper Beech stables
There is a new name over the door at Copper Beech Stables, one of the finest training establishments in Ireland, with trainer Cormac Farrell confirming that he has taken over the yard from Michael Halford.
It was last February when Halford, who had sent out almost 500 winners from Copper Beech Stables in 16 full seasons, including Group 1 scorer Casamento (Ire), announced that he had taken the decision to combine forces with Tracey Collins under the banner of Conyngham Lodge.
Farrell, a respected trainer in his own right but perhaps best known for trading horses at the point-to-point and breeze-up sales, bought the property alongside business partner and well-known owner Douglas Taylor shortly after that announcement.
